Kota Kinabalu: Three men were each fined RM5,500 or six months’ jail by the Magistrate’s Court here on Friday for possessing other people’s ATM cards.
Imran, 30, Md Atif Md Shuib, 30, and Allen Christopher, 21, pleaded guilty separately before Magistrate Wan Farrah Farriza Wan Ghazali to charges of possessing another person’s payment instrument without a legitimate purpose.
Imran, a technician, was caught with a CIMB Bank ATM card belonging to Nur Zulaikah Rohilu at 10.39am on July 29 in front of a supermarket in Alamesra.
Atif was found with an Ambank ATM card belonging to Ethelbert Julian at 4.40pm the same day in front of a car accessories shop at UUC Residence, Manggatal.
Allen, who is unemployed, was caught with a CIMB Bank ATM card belonging to Tan Eng Hong at the same time and location as Atif.
They were charged under Section 424A of the Penal Code, which carries a fine between RM5,000 and RM50,000, or imprisonment from six months to five years, or both, upon conviction.
The prosecution informed the court that a police operation was carried out on July 29 by the Commercial Crime Investigation Department of Kota Kinabalu police to tackle online fraud involving the misuse of bank accounts.
Surveillance revealed a group suspected of conspiring to distribute, buy, and rent out ATM cards for use in scams, in violation of Section 424A.
Duty Counsel Lim Ming Zoong @ Lawrence, who represented Atif and Allen, requested a lenient sentence, while the prosecution urged the court to impose a deterrent one.
In a separate case, a premises caretaker was fined RM3,000 or three months’ jail for operating an entertainment outlet without a valid licence.
Chong Hee Tat, 49, pleaded guilty before Magistrate Dzul Elmy Yunus to running Cowboy Bar in Asia City without a valid permit at 10.11pm on Aug 6.
Chong committed an offence under Section 4 of the Public Entertainment Ordinance 1958, punishable under Section 11 of the same Ordinance, which carries a fine of up to RM50,000 or imprisonment of up to a year, or both, upon conviction.
The court heard that police inspected the premises and found its entertainment licence and local authority permit had expired on June 30, 2025, but the outlet was still operating.
Police seized copies of the expired licences, a payment receipt dated Aug 6, 2025, and karaoke equipment.
Deputy Public Prosecutors Arfa Anchal Khan and Inspector Mohamad Hamidi Mohamad Hamzah prosecuted.
Imran, 30, Md Atif Md Shuib, 30, and Allen Christopher, 21, pleaded guilty separately before Magistrate Wan Farrah Farriza Wan Ghazali to charges of possessing another person’s payment instrument without a legitimate purpose.
Imran, a technician, was caught with a CIMB Bank ATM card belonging to Nur Zulaikah Rohilu at 10.39am on July 29 in front of a supermarket in Alamesra.
Atif was found with an Ambank ATM card belonging to Ethelbert Julian at 4.40pm the same day in front of a car accessories shop at UUC Residence, Manggatal.
Allen, who is unemployed, was caught with a CIMB Bank ATM card belonging to Tan Eng Hong at the same time and location as Atif.
They were charged under Section 424A of the Penal Code, which carries a fine between RM5,000 and RM50,000, or imprisonment from six months to five years, or both, upon conviction.
The prosecution informed the court that a police operation was carried out on July 29 by the Commercial Crime Investigation Department of Kota Kinabalu police to tackle online fraud involving the misuse of bank accounts.
Surveillance revealed a group suspected of conspiring to distribute, buy, and rent out ATM cards for use in scams, in violation of Section 424A.
Duty Counsel Lim Ming Zoong @ Lawrence, who represented Atif and Allen, requested a lenient sentence, while the prosecution urged the court to impose a deterrent one.
In a separate case, a premises caretaker was fined RM3,000 or three months’ jail for operating an entertainment outlet without a valid licence.
Chong Hee Tat, 49, pleaded guilty before Magistrate Dzul Elmy Yunus to running Cowboy Bar in Asia City without a valid permit at 10.11pm on Aug 6.
Chong committed an offence under Section 4 of the Public Entertainment Ordinance 1958, punishable under Section 11 of the same Ordinance, which carries a fine of up to RM50,000 or imprisonment of up to a year, or both, upon conviction.
The court heard that police inspected the premises and found its entertainment licence and local authority permit had expired on June 30, 2025, but the outlet was still operating.
Police seized copies of the expired licences, a payment receipt dated Aug 6, 2025, and karaoke equipment.
Deputy Public Prosecutors Arfa Anchal Khan and Inspector Mohamad Hamidi Mohamad Hamzah prosecuted.
